Method of reading a barcode and deactivating an electronic article surveillance tag

ABSTRACT

A method for managing the reading of a barcode and deactivation of an EAS tag relative to an EAS effective range and a depth of field (DoF) of the scanner is described. A product may comprise a barcode and a co-located EAS tag. The method uses a distance sensing system to sense how far the product is located from the scanner front window. The method only outputs the decoded data of the barcode when the product is inside an EAS effective distance. When the product is inside the EAs effective distance, the EAS tag on the product is deactivated. When a customer leaves a store with the EAS tag deactivated, a store alarm may not sound. When the product is outside of the EAS effective distance, but inside the DoF, the decoded data of the barcode is discarded.

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATION

The present application claims the benefit of Chinese Patent Applicationfor Invention No. 201710057072.3 for A Method of Reading a Barcode andDeactivating an Electronic Article Surveillance Tag filed on Jan. 26,2017, which is hereby incorporated by reference in its entirety.

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates to electronic article surveillance (EAS)systems, and, more particularly, to a method for reading a barcode anddeactivation of an EAS tag.

BACKGROUND

Generally speaking an EAS system is a technology used to identifyarticles as they pass through a gated area. This identification is usedto alert someone that unauthorized removal of items is being attempted.

In EAS systems, there can be the situation that the scanner DoF islonger than the EAS effective distance. In this case, the barcode can beread at the far end of the DoF, which may be a distance that is greaterthan the EAS effective distance. This situation means that the EAS tagthat is co-located with the barcode on the product would not bedeactivated since the EAS tag is out of EAS effective range. Since theEAS tag is not deactivated, an alarm would be activated when thecustomer passes through the security system of the store even though thecustomer purchased the article.

Therefore, there exists a need to manage the effective range of an EASsystem relative to the depth of field (DoF) of the scanner to avoid suchcustomer dissatisfaction situations.

SUMMARY

Accordingly, in one aspect, the present invention embraces an indiciareader with a distance sensing system. The distance sensing system maybe used to sense the distance of a machine-readable indicia on theobject from the indicia reader. Decoding and outputting of themachine-readable indicia may only occur if the measured distance is lessthan a pre-defined range. In another aspect, the indicia reader may be ascanner, the machine-readable indicia may be a barcode, and thepre-defined range may be an EAS effective range.

In an exemplary embodiment, a method for reading a barcode anddeactivating an EAS tag comprises decoding data from a barcode locatedon a product with a scanner, wherein the barcode is positioned in frontof the scanner and inside a depth of field (DoF) of the scanner;determining, with a distance sensing system, a distance between thescanner and the EAS tag, wherein, the distance sensing system is acomponent of the scanner. Only if the distance from the scanner to theEAS tag is less than an EAS range, the barcode decoded data is output bythe scanner to a host and the scanner sends a signal to an EAS device.(The signal sent to the EAS device may be an input/output signal or amessage signal, e.g., a deactivation tag signal.) The EAS devicesubsequently may send a deactivation signal to the EAS tag thatde-activates the EAS tag. Then, the scanner sends a status message to auser via the host based on information received from the EAS device andscanner. Wherein the host and the EAS device are coupled to the scanner.The method further comprises: only if the distance from the scanner tothe barcode is greater than the EAS range, discarding the barcodedecoded data and providing a negative indication to the user of thehost.

The distance sensing system may be based on infrared (IR) wirelesstechnology. The status message may be an audible message and/or a visualmessage. An EAS system may comprise the EAS device and the scanner thatmay be based on radio frequency technology. An EAS system may comprisethe EAS device and the scanner that may be based on acousto-magnetictechnology. An EAS system may comprise the EAS device and the scannerthat may be based on electromagnetic technology.

In another exemplary embodiment, a method of reading a machine-readableindicia may comprise determining, with a device, a distance between thedevice and an object; attempting to decode, with the device, amachine-readable indicia on the object. Only if the determined distancebetween the device and the object is within a pre-defined range, datarepresentative of the machine-readable indicia is generated. Themachine-readable indicia may be decoded or non-decoded machine-readableindicia. Wherein the pre-defined range is a working range of anelectronic article surveillance system within the device. Wherein themachine-readable indicia may a barcode.

If the determined distance between the device and the object is notwithin the pre-defined range, the device provides a negative indicationto a user of the device. Providing a negative indication may comprisegenerating a sound having a low tone. Providing a negative indicationmay comprise illuminating a light source.

Only if the determined distance between the device and the object iswithin the pre-defined range, the device provides a positive indicationto a user of the device. Providing a positive indication may comprisegenerating a sound having a high tone. Providing a positive indicationmay comprise illuminating a light source.

In yet another exemplary embodiment, the method of reading a barcode amethod for reading a barcode and deactivating an EAS tag may comprisedecoding data of a barcode with a scanner, wherein the barcode ispositioned in front of the scanner and inside a depth of field (DoF) ofthe scanner; determining a distance between the scanner and barcode.Only if the distance from the scanner to the barcode is within apre-defined range, the method comprises outputting barcode decoded datato a host that is coupled to the scanner and providing a positiveindication to a user associated with the host. Only if the distance fromthe scanner to the barcode is greater than the pre-defined range, themethod comprises discarding the barcode decoded data and providing anegative indication to a user associated with the host. The negativeindication may be an audible and/or visual message. The distance betweenthe scanner and the barcode may be determined by a distance sensingsystem that may be based on infrared (IR) wireless technology.

The foregoing illustrative summary, as well as other exemplaryobjectives and/or advantages of the invention, and the manner in whichthe same are accomplished, are further explained within the followingdetailed description and its accompanying drawings.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 illustrates an EAS system comprising radio frequency technology

FIG. 2 illustrates a barcode and an EAS tag.

FIG. 3 illustrates an EAS deactivation zone.

FIG. 4 illustrates an EAS system comprising an EAS device, a host and ascanner that includes a distance sensing system.

FIG. 5 illustrates the flowchart of a method for reading of a barcodeand deactivation of an EAS tag relative to an EAS effective range and adepth of field (DoF) of the scanner.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

The present invention embraces a method for reading a barcode anddeactivation of an EAS tag relative to an EAS effective range and adepth of field (DoF) of the scanner. A product may comprise a barcodeand a co-located EAS tag. The method uses a distance sensing system tosense how far the product is located from the scanner front window. Themethod only outputs the decoded data of the barcode when the product isinside an EAS effective distance. When the product is inside the EASeffective distance, the EAS tag on the product is deactivated. When acustomer leaves a store with the EAS tag deactivated, a store alarm maynot sound. When the product is outside of the EAS effective distance,but inside the DoF of the scanner, the decoded data of the barcode isdiscarded. The present invention is intended to use the distance sensingsystem using IR or any other system that realizes the same function.Reading a barcode includes decoding a barcode and outputting the decodedbarcode data. The barcode data output to the host may be decoded ornon-decoded data.

As noted herein, EAS is a technology used to identify articles orproducts as they pass through a gated area. This identification is usedto alert someone that unauthorized removal of items is being attempted.EAS systems are useful where there is an opportunity for theft of itemsof any size. The primary environment for an EAS system is retail stores;however, an increasing number of warehouses and distribution centers areinstalling the equipment.

Four types of EAS systems the retail industry include radio frequency(RF), electromagnetic (EM) acousto-magnetic (AM), and microwave (MW).Microwave (MW), was the first technology used for anti-theft systems andcan be far less reliable and accurate than the other threeaforementioned systems. In each technology, an EAS tag or label isattached to an article or product. The EAS tag/label is in an activestate when guarding against product theft. When in the active state, atag will sound an alarm if passed through the detection field locatedbetween EAS pedestals. When the EAS tag/label is deactivated, the alarmdoes not sound.

The type of EAS system dictates how wide the exit/entrance aisle may be,and the physics of a particular EAS tag and technology determines whichfrequency range is used to create a surveillance area.

Radio frequency (RF) systems are one of the most widely used systems.The basic idea is that the tag may have a helical antenna etched fromthin aluminum bonded to a piece of paper. At the end of the antenna is asmall diode or RC network that may cause the tag to emit a radio signalin response to the radio signal it receives.

In an exemplary embodiment, FIG. 1 illustrates an EAS RF system 100 thatthat may provide a direct path swept transmitter signal 7.4 MHz to 8.8MHz 112 and may operate as follows: 1) An RF EAS label (˜8 MHz Tag 102),an electronic circuit and antenna is attached to a product; 2) Atransmitter pedestal (Transmitter 104) emits a specific frequency (SweptTransmitter Signal 106); 3) The EAS label responds to the transmittedfrequency (Reradiated Signal 108); 4) The response from the label isthen picked up by the adjacent receiver pedestal (Receiver 110); 5) Theresponse signal is then processed by the system and will trigger analarm if it matches specific criteria.

The distance between the two gates can vary, but on average is not muchmore than two meters (2 m). Operating frequencies for RF systemsgenerally range from 2 to 10 MHz. Most of the time, RF systems use afrequency sweep technique in order to deal with different labelfrequencies. To disarm the tag, a strong RF pulse blasts the tag andburns out the diode or RC components, thus eliminating response signalsbetween the gates.

EAS and Bar Code Scanners. Since the mid-90's, EAS integration into barcode scanners has been a growing trend for those scanners that targetthe retail POS market. Some bar code scanners can integrate RF-based EASdeactivation. The reason RF may be the most common EAS platform withinbar code scanners is due to its simple design. All that may be requiredis a single closed loop antenna system capable of carrying the RF pulsegenerated from the EAS deactivator. The complexity with magnetic fieldsassociated with EM and AM technology may cause many more design problemsdue to shielding of electronic components and space limitations withinthe scanner housing.

RF EAS label is equivalent to EAS tag. In real use case, the EAS tag isa label that attached to the surface of the products to protect againstburglars. The barcode is printed on the label (or somewhere else on theproducts).

The Depth of Field (DoF) standards is the range that the scanner able todecode the code. For example, if one can read a resolution QR code from0 to 23 cm range in front of the window, then one can say the scanner'sDoF for the QR code is 0˜23 cm.

So, if the EAS effective range is 0˜10 cm the scanner would only decodeand output the code when it is placed in 0˜10 cm range. For the range of10˜23 cm the scanner is able to decode but it won't output the result tohost because the sensed distance is longer than 10 cm. As discussedherein, EAS range, EAS effective range, and EAS deactivation range areequivalent terms.

Regard “distance sensing system”, there are several methods to implementsuch a system. First, a distance sensing system may comprise an IR(Infrared Radiation) transmitting/receiving module. A microcontrollerdevice of the module converts the received analog signal from thereceiving module to a digital value. The software then determines thedistance by this value. An alternative method for a distance sensingsystem is to utilize proximity sensors that are common in smart phones.Most of these sensors are based on the ToF (Time of Flight) technologywhich will shoot a laser light and then calculate the distance by thetime interval between transmitting and receiving. A third method canutilize an ultrasonic wave instead of laser light to sense the distance.

In another exemplary embodiment 200, FIG. 2 illustrates barcode 202 andEAS tag 204. Generally, barcode 202 and EAS tag 204 may be co-located ona product/object. In an EAS system, there may be a separated EAS device.The antenna (with transmitter module) may be installed inside thescanner. So, the EAS tag can be deactivated along with the barcodereading. And the distance sensing system is part of the scanner systemand has its own transmitting and receiving module.

In yet another exemplary embodiment 300, FIG. 3 illustrates an EASdeactivation zone. As illustrated, the EAS tag must pass through thedeactivation zone area in order for deactivation to occur. Thedeactivation zone may be considered when determining the EAS effectiverange.

In yet another exemplary embodiment, FIG. 4 illustrates an EAS system400 comprising EAS device 402, scanner 406, and host 407. Scanner 406may be coupled to host 407 via cable 409 and scanner 406 may be coupledto EAS device 402 via cable 404 and cable 405. Cable 405 may support thetransfer of data messages and cable 404 may support the transfer of adeactivation signal from the EAS device. The deactivation signal is sentvia cable 404 to a transmitter and EAS antenna 410 located in scanner406. In turn, the deactivation signal may be wirelessly transmitted toan EAS tag. EAS antenna 410 has a transmission distance, i.e. depth offield indicated by DoF 412. Scanner 406 may also comprise distancesensing system 408. Distance sensing system 408 may determine if an EAStag is within EAS range 414. Distance sensing system 408 comprises aseparate transmitter/receiver/antenna from the EAS antenna 410.

FIG. 4 also illustrates EAS tag&barcode 416 and EAS tag&barcode 418. Thelocation of EAS tag&barcode 416 and EAS tag&barcode 418 may bedetermined by the distance sensing system 408. Both EAS tag&barcode 416and EAS tag&barcode 418 can be within the range of DoF 412. EAStag&barcode 416 is in the range of EAS range 414. Therefore, EAS device402 can send a deactivation signal to EAS tag&barcode 416 in order todeactivate the EAS tag. Also, the scanner may send the decoded barcodedata to host 407. EAS tag&barcode 418 is not within the range of EASrange 414. Therefore, the EAS tag of EAS tag&barcode 418 may not bedeactivated and the decoded barcode data may be discarded.

In yet another exemplary embodiment, FIG. 5 illustrates a flowchart of amethod to manage the operation of EAS system 400 relative to an EASrange 414 and a depth of field (DoF 412) of a scanner and the reading ofa barcode. The method comprises the following steps:

A product, including an EAS tag and Barcode, is placed in front ofscanner 406 and inside depth of field distance, DoF 412. (step 502)

Scanner 406 decodes barcode on product and distance sensing systemdetects EAS tag and determines distance from scanner 406 to EAS tag.(step 504)

Compare distance from scanner 406 to an EAS tag and the EAS range 414.(step 506)

Determine if the distance from scanner 406 to an EAS tag is smaller thanEAS range 414. (step 508)

Only if the distance from scanner 406 to EAS tag is smaller than EASrange 414, then scanner 406 outputs barcode decoded data to host 407 andsends a signal to EAS device 402. (step 510) Then, EAS device 402receives the signal from scanner 406 & sends a deactivation signal viaEAS antenna 410 to deactivate an EAS tag. At the same time, scanner 406may decide when to send status message to user. (step 512).Subsequently, scanner 406 sends status message to user. (step 514)

A signal from scanner 406 to host 407 may be sent via cable 409. Asignal from scanner to EAS device 402 may be sent via cable 405. EASdevice 402 may send a deactivation signal to EAS antenna 410 via cable404.

Only if the distance from scanner 406 to EAS tag is greater than EASrange 414, then the scanner 406 discards the decoded barcode data. (step508)

To supplement the present disclosure, this application incorporatesentirely by reference the following commonly assigned patents, patentapplication publications, and patent applications:

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* * *

In the specification and/or figures, typical embodiments of theinvention have been disclosed. The present invention is not limited tosuch exemplary embodiments. The use of the term “and/or” includes anyand all combinations of one or more of the associated listed items. Thefigures are schematic representations and so are not necessarily drawnto scale. Unless otherwise noted, specific terms have been used in ageneric and descriptive sense and not for purposes of limitation.

The invention claimed is:
 1. A method, comprising: reading a barcodewith a scanner having a depth of field (DoF); determining, with adistance sensing system, a distance between the scanner and anelectronic article surveillance (EAS) tag; if the distance from thescanner to the EAS tag is less than an EAS range, outputting barcodedata to a host, sending a signal to an EAS device to deactivate the EAStag, and provide a positive indication to a user; and if the distancefrom the scanner to the barcode is greater than the EAS range,discarding the barcode data and providing a negative indication to theuser; wherein the host and the EAS device are coupled to the scanner. 2.The method according to claim 1, comprising sending, via the scanner, astatus message to a user based on information received from the EASdevice and scanner.
 3. The method according to claim 1, wherein, thedistance sensing system uses infrared (IR) wireless technology.
 4. Themethod according to claim 2, wherein, the status message is an audiblemessage.
 5. The method according to claim 2, wherein, the status messageis a visual message.
 6. The method according to claim 1, wherein, an EASsystem comprising the EAS device and the scanner is based on radiofrequency technology.
 7. The method according to claim 1, wherein, anEAS system comprising the EAS device and the scanner is based onacousto-magnetic technology.
 8. A method, comprising: determining, witha device, a distance between the device and an object; attempting todecode, with the device, a machine-readable indicia on the object; ifthe determined distance between the device and the object is within apre-defined range, generating data representative of themachine-readable indicia; and if the determined distance between thedevice and the object is not within the pre-defined range, discardingthe data representative of the machine-readable indicia.
 9. The methodof claim 8, wherein the pre-defined range is a working range of anelectronic article surveillance system within the device.
 10. The methodof claim 8, wherein, if the determined distance between the device andthe object is not within the pre-defined range, the method furthercomprising providing a negative indication to a user of the device. 11.The method of claim 10, wherein providing a negative indicationcomprises generating a sound having a low tone.
 12. The method of claim10, wherein providing a negative indication comprises illuminating alight source.
 13. The method of claim 8, comprising, only if thedetermined distance between the device and the object is within thepre-defined range, providing a positive indication to a user of thedevice.
 14. The method of claim 13, wherein providing a positiveindication comprises generating a sound having a high tone.
 15. Themethod of claim 13, wherein providing a positive indication comprisesilluminating a light source.
 16. The method of claim 8, wherein themachine-readable indicia is a barcode.
 17. A method, comprising:decoding data of a barcode with a scanner, wherein the barcode ispositioned in front of the scanner and inside a depth of field (DoF) ofthe scanner; determining a distance between the scanner and barcode; ifthe distance from the scanner to the barcode is within a pre-definedrange, outputting barcode data to a host that is coupled to the scannerand providing a positive indication to a user associated with the host;and if the distance from the scanner to the barcode is greater than thepre-defined range, discarding the barcode data and providing a negativeindication to the user associated with the host.
 18. The methodaccording to claim 17, wherein the pre-defined range comprises a workingrange of an electronic article surveillance system within the scanner.19. The method according to claim 17, wherein the distance between thescanner and the barcode is determined by a distance sensing system. 20.The method according to claim 19, wherein the distance sensing system isbased on infrared (IR) wireless technology.